Politics

Government Weighs Special Three-Day Parliament Session to Push Through Delimitation Bills

By Amrita Madhukalya, Shemin Joy

The central government appears to be considering a special session of Parliament, possibly spanning three days towards the end of the month, to pass pending delimitation bills. According to sources, the government has already approached key allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regarding the matter. Notably, the Monsoon Session, which concluded on August 21, has not yet been formally prorogued, more than two weeks after it ended. A senior leader from a major NDA ally revealed that discussions with the BJP leadership suggested the special session could be held between September 24 and 26. Another prominent NDA partner confirmed being informed of the possibility of such a session. However, Parliament staff say they have not received any official instructions to begin preparations. Officials noted that they are typically given advance notice to arrange security and logistics, but no such communication has been issued so far. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had earlier indicated that the government remains open to various options and suggested that the process of proroguing the Monsoon Session might take some time. Meanwhile, sources within the Congress party denied any formal or informal communication from the government about a special session, despite reports suggesting Rijiju had reached out to them. A senior Congress leader involved in parliamentary strategy reiterated the party’s position, stating that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has repeatedly requested an all-party meeting to discuss the delimitation bill in detail. In a letter dated August 27, Kharge again urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene such a meeting, asking that all political parties and state governments be given sufficient time to review the government’s proposals before any decision is taken. The bill in question, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026, which is tied to the women’s reservation legislation, was previously rejected in the Lok Sabha by opposition parties during the Monsoon Session. However, political dynamics within the INDIA bloc have since shifted, particularly after the Congress extended support to Vijay’s TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu. This shift has raised the possibility that the DMK may now back the delimitation bills when they are reintroduced.